30 October 2008

Chesnut Cheeked Starling-Sturnus phillipines

Today the weather is holding, cool and sunny. Arrived at the same spot at 0715 and park the car. Patience seems to be paying off today, Chesnut Cheeked Starling appeared on the same tree where I digiscope the Pink-Necked Green Pigeon. And Karim @sinooorita inform me that tree was the same place he photograph it two days earlier. So now I have some leads because this tree is fruiting and it seems to enjoying it.

It was moving so fast it was quite difficult to photograph but anyhow I just took some.
Not the best of pictures but managed to get it for identification purpose.

Not long later Jason @horokuru arrived and inform him of the starling and both of us tried to take some picture.

I tried to get in on video but it was just to fast maybe I will try my luck tomorrow.

Today's list: Chestnut Cheeked Starling, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Pink Necked Green Pigeon, Crested Myna, Yellow Vented Bulbul, Straited Grass Bird, Tailor bird (heard only) , Sandpipers, Black Shouldered Kite, Spotted Dove, Lesser Egret, Little ring plover

29 October 2008

Trying my skill

Today was fine weather, I was supposed to met CK but I was late, did went to the Black Collared Starling site. Park the car at the same place and only notice that CK van was park ahead at the old site where we tested my scope. I should have inform him that I was park at the back of the road, again my sincere apology to you CK.

I actualy arrived around 0705 and was birding around until I realised CK was gone around 0800. I guess he must be dissapointed that I did not keep my word (should have been there early) again my apologies to Him.

At about 0750/0800 when I was about to move back to my car, Karim @sinooorita was already setting up his scope and we waited and waited for the starling to appear but instead only the norm was seen (leser sand piper, cattel egret, cinnamon bittern, yellow vented bulbul, spotted dove, juvenile green heron and a pair of pink necked green pigeon. Spotted the heron and ask some tips from Karim how to actually get a better focus with digiscoping and with several tries, I finally managed to get a good picture of the pigeon. Thank you Karim.

Waited until the sun was getting hotter, we decided to make it a day and head for breakfast to a mamak shop. When the Nescafe arrvied, Karim received a call from Jason B, told him that Changable Hawk eagle was at the Likas bird sanctuary (road side) pearching on a dead tree. Without hesitation we headed to that direction but the bird had moved to a higher tree and was out of sight. While waiting for the bird to return, we change views and ideas how to improve our birding and photography here in Sabah in general.

At 1130 am, it was time to make our move and we departed our ways. Promised to make another visit tomorrow at Penampang road.

28 October 2008

Starlings

Weather today was the same as yesterday morning,thinking it would rain so decided to take a longer sleep but the phone rang and Thomas was already at the site. So jump I went and met him and after looking and waiting for an hour, then boom right in front was this two big birds wondering around the dried part of the rice field.

Very noticeable was the prominent facial skin yellowish and white band across rump and uppertail-coverts and prominent white wing markings.

This is my lifer for this month.

I have also added a video. Check it out.

27 October 2008

Weekend and Depavali Day

Thinking it will be a long weekend and with the coming of Depavali celebration, birding was the first thing in my mind. However it rain, rain, rain from Sunday until morning Monday.

It was really a gloomy day but on the Monday noon time, called Karim aka sinooorita and found out that he was already at the Penampang road side where we spoted the Phalarope and Ruff. Again this time it was the Pranticole. They were 4 birds at the road side, approximately about 100 meters from the roadside.

Tried to take some digiscoping but the rain was in the way, only managed a sorry picture but at least it was recorded of its presence.

25 October 2008

Macro Canon G9

Finally did some photography with the new G9 Canon. As mentioned in my earlier entry, I tried using it for digiscoping but some so promising.

However the G9 did work well with other subjects. Fortunately for me , I love orchids and its been my passion to get good pictures of rare or endemic orchids of Borneo. So here are some pictures for sampling.

21 October 2008

Finally did some digiscope with Canon G9 / Kowa TSN 603 x 45 x. but the final result was not impresive.

I was advise that just maybe the camera was not compatible for digiscoping.

The bird pictures was taken during the Waders workshop conducted by David Bakewell, organised by Nazeri Abghani, MSN Sabah - Ali, Jason and Karim (slide contribution).

The workshop was quite educational and hopefully there will be more to come.

Note: the orchid and pitcher plants was photograph earlier.

Cheers

Temminks Sunbird female

Temminks Sunbird female

Temminks Sunbird

Temminks Sunbird

Indigo flycatcher

Indigo flycatcher

Yellow Breasted Warbler

Yellow Breasted Warbler

Black Collared Starlings

Black Collared Starlings
2 birds , winter from South China

Starlings Video

Little Heron

Little Heron

Grey Tail Tattler

Grey Tail Tattler

Crested Myna

Crested Myna

Chesnut Cheeked Starling-Sturnus phillipines

Chesnut Cheeked Starling-Sturnus phillipines
Second Lifer

Pink Necked Green Pigeon - video

Crested Myna video

Pink Necked Green Pigeon

Pink Necked Green Pigeon
My best ever effort with digiscoping

Cattle Egret!!

Black Collared Starlings

Black Collared Starlings
Lifer of the Day....spot at Penampang-Dongongon roadside

Oriental Pratincole

Oriental Pratincole
At the road side Penampang/Dongongon bypass

Black Headed Munia

Black Headed Munia
Shot at padi field at Penampang

Waders feeding

Waders feeding
digiscope

Ruff - digiscope

Ruff - digiscope
Only bird / Penampang rice field

Black Wing Stilt - digiscope

Black Wing Stilt - digiscope
Taken at Penampang roadside

Wimbrel - digiscope

Wimbrel - digiscope
Sighted at Lok Kawi Mud flat

Pacific Egret - Grey Form

Pacific Egret - Grey Form
digiscope

Snipe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHP6RE_IS_k

Sunset

Sunset
Nature

Digiscoping Equipment

Digiscoping Equipment

Equipment use for birding

  • Nikon D300
  • SLIK tripod / Monfrotto ProB tripod with Monfrotto Video Head 701HDV
  • Kowa Universal adapter
  • Canon G9 / Nikon L16 Coolpix
  • TSN603 with 45X wide angle / 20X wide angle
  • Nikon Monarch 10x42

Birding at Tambunan

Birding at Tambunan
Mountain Barbet / Andrew and Karim in action

Birding Time with Good Friends

22 April 08

Late updating, few trips with Jason and CK. We had a good sight of the Whitehead Spider Hunter. They took pictures (digiscoping). Have not seen it yet.

Jason on the scope for Whiteheads broadbill

Jason on the scope for Whiteheads broadbill
Broadbill quest

CK (front carrying his scope) and Jason

CK (front carrying his scope) and Jason

Jason - Tabin restaurant platform

Jason - Tabin restaurant platform

Tabin

Tabin
Jason - bird spotting